My "Don't Tell Mom!" painting series

It has been more than crazy at the studio! How can so much happen in 4 weeks?
So rushing through chores mid June, I tripped on a loop of bailing twine (that I had note and was going to do something about it!) went down like a ton of bricks and broke my elbow. Elbow! Who breaks their elbow?

My jeweler friend Ginger cuts off my wedding ring :-)

To top it off I was leaving for a facilitator conference the next day in the NC mountains...boy was I ticked! Wrapped up in a half cast, I went anyway and had a fabulous if not slightly awkward time :-)

SO I return in time to get ready for my 4 day summer art camp...this time I had help! I'll add the photos as soon as I find the folder :-(
Anyway in between all of that I have kept busy creating my non-commissioned art...just because! And just because is as good a reason as any so I have spent days just painting large happy canvases!
One of them, an acrylic on 30 x 30 canvas was selected to go on a catalog cover for the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show...very cool! Steve putting in the graphics.

 

30 x 30 acrylic on canvas "Blowing Rock Horse Show"

 Yes-sort of Grandma Moses but people are loving it!

 Then I decided to go further-thinking of the years my twin and I rode like Indians on our New York farm, I decided to do my "Don't Tell Mom" series...they're big-30 x 40 canvases but oh what fun to create! 

We tried all sorts of tricks on our mares and somehow they yolerated our clumsy trick maneuvers.
One summer, our mares were off being bred at a farm in HIllsdale, NY and that summer we rode a little 13 hh pony called "Bobby." Conniving, tricky and ready to dump us in a moment, we kept him tuned for his younger owners who had been unable to stay on him :-)

#2 in my "Don't Tell Mom" series is "School's Out!" 30 x 40 acrylic on canvas

#1 in my "Don't Tell Mom" series, "Acrobats"

 So if these don't make you smile today, nothing will...
Enjoy the content and the colors and I'll be posting new ones shortly!

FInding your motivation

The light from a window

misty morning view at the B & B

Sunset on the Chesapeake

Rejuvenation and inspiration !

People are always asking me "How do you get your inspiration?" and often I have to think about it because it is not usually some amazing POP that comes to mind. 

It is more of a moment, a day or an afternoon of either a new location or catching the light from something familiar.

A recent trip to the Chesapeake and a stay at the Inn at Tabbs Creek B & B sparked not only a feeling of relaxation but the tell tale feelings of inspiration! Creativity or "ideas" can strike in a moment or accumulate.

 It is a subtle excitement that recharges something within the creative person's inner being. It is that same feeling that comes when you are on a hidden trail and wanting to see what is around the next bend :-)

 Everyone has creative moments.....but not all people take advantage of them!

Find what sparks your creativity for painting, writing, for music.....for your own enjoyment.

And then USE that inspiration as your motivation!  Creative moments are not for hoarding. 

Sunlight on the Iris

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The backlit colors